Decomposing beryl



ways'present in raw berylis also fluorized, v

Patented Mar. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE MAX ZIMMEBMANN, OF LEVEBKUSEN-ON-THE-RHINE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOIB TO I. G.

FABBENINDUSTRIE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF FRANKFOBT-ON-THE-MAIN, GER- DECOMPOSING IBEBYIb No Drawing. Application filed June 18, 1980, Serial No. 462,150, and in Germany June 88, 1829.

v The present invention relates to the decomposition of beryl and beryl containing minerals by means of gaseous hydrofluoric acid.

According to my invention beryl and/or beryl containing minerals are subjected to the action of gaseous'hydrofluoric acid at temperatures of between 100 and 900 C. Best results are obtained when working at about 500600 C. By the decomposition of powdered beryl with gaseous hydrofluoric acid the fluorides-of the'elements in the beryl are obtained i. e. beryllium fluoride, aluminium fluoride, silicon fluoride. The iron albut the firstly formed iron fluoride decomposes at the reaction temperatures and iron oxide remains. I a

The decomposition proceeds even when the pulverized beryl is exposed to the gaseous hydrofluoric acid in a considerably thick layer, silicon fluoride escapes from the apparatus and the mass becomes a red-brown color by the formation of iron oxide. The

reaction is complete when the red-brown color does not change. The reaction mass is poured into water, wherein the beryllium fluoride readily dissolves, while aluminium fluorideand iron oxide remain undi'ssolved. From the filtered solution the beryllium is to be obtained according to known methods, for instance, by precipitating as beryllium hydroxide by means of ammonia.

2 Example means of gaseous hydrofluoric acid which means of ammonia. The filtrate from the hydroxide can be utilized in the known man:

ner.

2.Beryl is decomposed by silicic acid so that also silicon fluoride acts as a fluorating agent.

The working up is effected as indicated in Example 1.

I claim:'

1. In the process of decomposing beryl the step which comprises heating beryl with gaseous'hydrofluoric acid to a temperature of between 100and 900 C. v

.2. Process of decomposing beryl comprising heating powdered beryl in a current of aseous hydrofluoric acid to a temperature of etween 100-900 C. until no silicon fluoride escapes, extracting the reaction mass with water of about 10100 0., filtering and precipitating the filtrate by means of ammonia.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

MAX ZIMMERMANN.

The following examples are given to illustrate my invention; it is, of course, not restricted thereto:

Example 1.-4-parts by weight of bryl containing 12% BeO, 20% A1 0 2% Fe20. and 65% SiO areheated in an iron or nickel tube to about 600 C. and gaseous hydrofluoric acid is passed over the mass. The introduction of hydrofluoric acid when no more SiF is evolved (SiF is detected by introduction. of the reaction gas coming from the apparatus into water; SiF is decomposed thereby and SiO precipitates which settles as a cloudy mass). The reaction mass. which can easily be pulverized is extracted with hot water of about -100 C.; from the filtrate the beryllium is precipitated as hydroxide by 

